Page 78 of Wild Card

“I promised I’d be at the baseball game too. But you’re welcome to come with us.”

Mother’s nose wrinkled. “No, thank you. Well, suit yourselves.”

When our server made eye contact, Mother flagged her with one finger in the air and requested the check. While she searched her handbag for a credit card, I tried to start a silent conversation with Cass, but she just shook her head.

Thankfully, my mother excused herself, and Cass and I had a moment alone for the first time in what felt like years.

“What is going on?” I asked quietly. “The truth this time.”

She opened her mouth and took a breath, but closed it again, pinning her bottom lip between her teeth.

A hard look finally convinced her.

“I don’t know,” she started, her voice trembling. “It’s just that we’ve been so busy and Davis is, like, nowhere. Mom has been helping some, but honestly, I think I just want to be alone. I don’t get it. I waited a fucking decade for him to propose and now he’s off running around with his friends and leaving me to everything, coming in late and drunk. Maybe it’s my fault. He probably just proposed because he felt sorry for me.”

“Cassidy Winfield. That is a bald-faced lie, and you know it.”

“I don’t know anything. I thought I did, but now...I’m just...I’m annoyed and I’m hurt and I’m not even sure what’s going on except that I have a shitload of things to do.”

“Why haven’t you let me help you?”

“I don’t even know! I think part of me was hoping Davis would pitch in, but when he doesn’t, I’m usually so pissed I don’t want to see anyone. It’s so stupid. He’s just being a guy.”

“Let me come with you today. We can talk.”

“No. I want to, but I’m afraid if I let whatever this is”—she gestured to her chest—“out of the box, it’s going to ruin everything. Just...give me some more time. I’ve been avoiding picking a fight with him, but I guess today’s the day. Which means I need to write a rage speech.” Cass’s phone buzzed, and when she picked it up, her face lit. “It’s Davis.”

“Good man.”

Her thumbs went on a little rampage as she texted him back. “He’s going to come with, so I guess we can fight and then hopefully fuck our premarital brains out because ‘ya girl has been needing some one-on-one.”

I kicked her under the table as Henry and Annie walked through the restaurant behind a hostess.

Henry stared at me, his eyes haunted. He looked like he’d barely slept, veering in our direction when he saw me.

Annie glared at the back of his head. “Seriously, Henry?”

Henry blinked over his shoulder at her. “I’m only saying hello.”

She looked furious, her cheeks flushing and eyes flashing. She muttered something under her breath and marched to catch up with the hostess.

Cass glanced at me, one brow flickering.

“Hey, Henry. I thought Davis was with you?”

He wore a strange smile. “No, I think he’s running errands with you today, isn’t he?”

She sighed happily. “Yes, and thank God. I was going to riot if we didn’t see each other alone soon.”

“Jess,” he started, his attention already back on me. “I’m desperate to speak with you. When can we?—”

“Good morning, Henry,” Mother said from behind him, and he swallowed whatever he was about to say. “Whatever are you doing here?”

“Having breakfast with Annie,” he answered, looking back at Annie, who was on her phone again, typing with too much force to be anything but angry. “Actually, I should probably be getting back. You’ll excuse me.”

But before he left, he touched the back of my chair, leaning in to speak into my ear.

“Please, can we find some time to talk, Bits? I need you.”

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